Ukraine UMC builds Hope for Another Winter

Yulia Starodubets, Oleg Starodubets, and Knut Refsdal

As the war continues, The United Methodist Church in Ukraine is establishing resilience centers that will provide warmth, electricity, community, and hope to vulnerable families.

When the church gathered for its Annual Conference in Uzhhorod in October, much of the conversation focused on the future of the Church. Yet the gathering also highlighted a more urgent reality: how a small church continues to serve people faithfully in the midst of an ongoing war.

In the days leading up to the Annual Conference, Bishop Knut Refsdal and Thomas Risager led a seminar for church leaders at the church center Under the Castle in Kamyanytsia. Topics included grace as the foundation of Christian faith and life, the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, the relationship between United Methodist theology and contemporary values, and the organization of The United Methodist Church.

The seminar provided an opportunity for theological reflection and meaningful conversation about the Church's mission in challenging times. Participants came from different parts of Ukraine, sharing a common conviction: the Church must remain rooted in its theological identity while responding to the very real needs created by war.

Bishop Refsdal summarized the United Methodist tradition in these words: “I am a United Methodist because I believe this tradition holds together what our time so desperately needs: Grace and responsibility. Faith and reason. Personal transformation and social renewal. Conviction and humility.”

Preparing for Another Difficult Winter

As the Church gathered for its Annual Conference, Ukrainian Methodists were also preparing for another winter marked by uncertainty. Ongoing attacks on energy infrastructure continue to threaten access to electricity, heating, and communication. Power outages have already affected both Uzhhorod in western Ukraine and Ukrainka near Kyiv. In some regions, households have had to prepare for the possibility of being without electricity for up to eight hours a day.

When the power goes out, homes quickly become cold and dark. Internet access is disrupted, mobile phones cannot be charged, and preparing warm meals becomes difficult. For people facing these conditions throughout the winter months, access to warmth, food, and communication is essential.

In response, the United Methodist Church in Ukraine and the organization Mayak Pokolinnya are establishing two resilience centers where people can find warmth, electricity, community, and practical support when the power grid fails.

A Lighthouse in Uzhhorod

The first center is being developed through the Lighthouse Youth Center in Uzhhorod. Over the past year, the center has become an important gathering place for young people. Approximately 80 percent of its regular participants are internally displaced people who have been forced to leave their homes because of the war. Here they find community, activities, friendship, and emotional support in the midst of difficult circumstances.

This winter, Lighthouse will also serve as a resilience center. Equipped with a generator, inverter, battery systems, and energy-efficient LED lighting, it will remain operational during power outages. People will be able to charge phones, access the internet, enjoy hot drinks and warm meals, and receive psychosocial support.

Hope Near Kyiv

The second center is being established in Ukrainka, in the Kyiv region, in partnership with the local United Methodist congregation. The area is especially vulnerable because of attacks on energy infrastructure, including the nearby Trypilska power plant.

The church building will be equipped to provide backup power and serve as a safe gathering place during outages. The center will offer practical assistance to vulnerable residents and internally displaced families, enabling them to stay connected with loved ones, access basic services, and receive support from the local community.

More Than Electricity and Heat

Together, the two centers will be able to provide up to 30 servings of hot meals each day, in addition to hot beverages, internet access, and charging facilities. Their purpose is not only to meet physical needs but also to reduce isolation, stress, and loneliness.

District Superintendent Oleg Starodubets describes the vision this way: “These centers are about more than electricity and warmth. They are places where people can find an inclusive community, receive practical help, and experience hope, even when the circumstances around them are difficult.”

The project builds on existing congregations and long-established relationships within local communities. In this way, it becomes a tangible expression of the Church's calling to serve its neighbors, especially those who are most vulnerable.

The Annual Conference in Uzhhorod once again demonstrated what characterizes Methodists in Ukraine. The Church may be small, but its impact cannot be measured by membership numbers alone. Through education, fellowship, care, and practical service, Ukrainian Methodists continue to be a light in the darkness for people living with the consequences of war every day.

Photo captions:

Church leaders gather at the “Under the Castle” center in Kamyanytsia for a seminar led by Bishop Knut Refsdal and Thomas Risager on United Methodist theology and church life.

Some of the delegates to the Annual Conference visited the castle ruin close to the Church Centre “Under the Castle”.